Method of removing carbon and other deposits from internal combustion engines



may 21, 1940. a 'LE 2,201,773

METHOD OF REMOVING CARBON AND OTHER DEPOSITS FROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Deg. 2, 1938 if I l I INVENTOR; M 14 GEORGE HOFELE A TTORNE Y Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF REMOVING CARBON AND OTHER DEPOSITS FROM INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES Application December 2, 1938, Serial No.'243,579

4 Claims.

My invention has relation to improvements in methods of removing carbon and other deposits from internal combustion engines and consists of the novel features more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The principal object of the invention is to remove carbon deposits and other accretions from the cylinders, pistons and valves of the engine without the removal of the head therefrom. Heretofore the common practice in removing carbon deposits has been either to scrape such deposits from the parts affected or to burn the deposits with a blowtorch. The scraping process is slow and consequently expensive, while the use of a blowtorch requires considerable skill in order to avoid damage to the engine.

I have discovered that the accumulations within the engine may be removed by pumping a suitable fluid into the engine and circulating this fluid under pressure by the action of the engine pistons. The particular fluid that is used is immaterial so long as it has the property of loosening the deposits and there are many such preparations on the market. The simplicity of my improvement in cleaning engines and the ease with which it may be performed makes the operation both economical and available for general use since it does not require the services of a skilled mechanic.

The advantages will be better apparent from a detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an outline perspective view of an automobile with the hood raised and parts broken away so as to show the application of the apparatus with which my improved method is practiced. Fig. 2 is a composite plan and elevation of the entire apparatus. Fig. 3 is a middle vertical longitudinal section through a connector that is inserted in the engine block in lieu of the spark plug when practicing the method hereinafter described. Figure 4 is a side elevation of what I choose to term a fluid distributor with parts broken away.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a conventional automobile having an eight-cylinder V-type engine I, from which the carburetor has been removed and in which a blocking plate or shim 2 has been inserted between the exhaust manifold 3 and the exhaust pipe 4. The spark plugs have also been removed and replaced by special plugs or connectors 5 from which the flexible tubes 8 lead to a fluid distributing head or manifold I mounted on a special fitting 8, which is connected by a nipple 9 and flange III to flange ll of intake manifold II which normally serves to receive the carburetor which, as stated, has been removed. It will be observed that there is a tube 5 connecting each cylinder through the spark plug opening to the fluid distributor or manifold I, and said manifold I has no connection with the engine except through said tube 6.

A control cock i2 is tapped into the fitting 8 and a flexible tube l3 leads from said cock to a standard gear pump I4 mounted on a suitable frame l5. The frame I5 is provided with two sets of bearings 16, I6 and l1, H, in which are mounted concave rollers l8 and I9 properly spaced to support the rear wheel W of the automobile A. A gear case 20 housing a train of gears 2| is mounted adjacent to the roller l8 and connects said roller with a motor M which drives said roller through the motor shaft 22 and stub shaft 23 of the roller. The inner stub shaft 24 of the roller I9 is suitably coupled to shaft 25 of gear pump l4 so that the pump will be operated through the roller 19.

The intake side of pump I4 is connected by a flexible tube 26 to a container 21, which serves as the receptacle for the fluid that is pumped through the engine. The container 21 is also connected to the crankcase 28 of the engine by a flexible tube 29 so that any fluid that accumu-v lates in the crankcase may drain back into the container 21.

The connectors 5 whereby the tubes 6 are connected into the spark plug openings 0 each have a threaded inner end for this purpose, while the outer end 30 is of reduced diameter to receive a cap 3| to which the tubing 6 is connected by means of a nipple 32. The cap 3| is held onto the connector 5 by a cap screw 33 screwed into a tapped opening 34 in the end of the reduced extremity 30 of connector 5.

The apparatus now having been described and the parts explained in detail, the manner of its use in practicing my improved method is as follows:

As heretofore stated, the engine carburetor is removed and the special fitting 8 secured in place of it, and the spark plugs are also removed and the connectors 5 secured in place of them so that all of the cylinders are connected by the tubes 6 and manifold l. The exhaust manifold 3 is also blocked off by the plate 2 as stated. The rear wheel W of the automobile A, having previously been positioned on the rollers I8 and I9, may now be driven by the motor M so as to set the pistons of the engine in motion.

The pump ll obviously forces the fluid from the container 8! through the tube 20 and tube It through the special fitting I and into the intake manifold ll. As the intake valves are opened by the external driving of the engine, the fluid will pass through them into the cylinders and as the exhaust valves are opened the fluid will pass through the exhaust valves into the exhaust manii'old 8. However, since the exhaust manifold is blocked off, as stated, the fluid cannot discharge from the engine but must accumulate therein until the predetermined amount necessary to perform the cleaning operation has been pumped into the engine. As the pistons of the engine continue to operate the fluid will be pumped back and forth through the cylinders and valves under pressure by the action of the pump II, and any excess-of fluid accumulated in any one cylinder will be expelled therefrom through the tube I leading from that cylinder into the manifold I and be distributed to other cylinders having a deficiency of fluid. Thus as the pistons continue to operate, the manifold or distributing head I will distribute the fluid among the respective cylinders so as to maintain a substantially continuous flow in each cylinder. After the cylinders have been actuated awhile some of the fluid will be washed past the piston rings and through the valve guides, cleaning the accumulations therefrom, and drain into the crankcase, from which it is removed and discharged into the container 21 through the tube-2!. g

The cleaning operation is continued as long as in the judgmentof the operator it is necessary in order to remove all deposits from the various parts of the engine, after which the sludge and soiled fluid may be drained out by disconnecting the manifold l. Obviously, no fixed time of effecting a thorough cleaning of the engine by my improved, method can be set for all jobs as the amountof carbon deposits and other accumulations in-the engine-would determine the length of time necessary for the effective treatment thereof.

If desired the fluid distributing manifold I may be dispensed with and the cylinders may be directly connected in pairs through the spark-plug openings. When this arrangement is adopted the cylinders of each connected pair would have their pistons in opposite relation so'that when one piston is on its up-stroke the other piston would be on its down-stroke and the fluid would be forced from one'cylinder to the other.

No claims are presented herein on the appsratus as it is the subject of a separate application filed January 9, 1939, under Serial No. 249,985.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A method of cleaning internal combustion engines which comprises the charging of a liquid detergent into the cylinders of the engine, and causing said liquid to circulate from one cylinder to another under pressure.

2. A method of cleaning internal combustion engines which comprises the charging of a. liquid detergent into the cylinders of'the engine, actuating the engine by the application of external power, maintaining free communication between cylinders to permit the liquid to flow from one to another continuously during the actuation of the engine.

3. A method of cleaning internal combustion engines which comprises the charging of a liquid detergent into the cylinders of the engin causing said liquid to circulate from one cylinder to another under pressure, and maintaining free circulation of the liquid among the cylinders.

4. A method of cleaning internal combustion engines which comprises the charging of a liquid detergent into the cylinders of the engine, and causing said liquid to circulate in a closed circult through the cylinders under pressure.

GEORGE- HOFELE. 

